Posts Tagged ‘2011’

Pusha T continues to elevate the hip-hop game here with a truly fantastic release. Hard hitting and heavy from start to finish each song if full of signature beats combined with Pusha’s rapid fire lyrics. Mixed well and combined with some eclectic guest spots – 50 Cent and Rick Ross, lend to a suburb LP.

One might think that the Decemberists style may grow old like Arcade Fire. However, this album came as quite a surprise. Still the Decemberists to a “T,” “The King is Dead” provides some new depth to this band and delivers both crooning ballads and smooth rock.

7) TV on the Radio “Nine Types of Light”

TV on the Radio has always been good, but with their fourth album the band seems to have found a groove. This album is filled with one catchy song after another that lead the listener through a journey that is unlike any the band has presented before.

6) Sbtrkt – “SBTRKT”

This London-based dubstep came out of the gates hot this year with this blistering debut album. Think Burial on acid. This album spread like”Wildfire” as even Drake remixed the hit song. The ethereal sound combined with infectious beats, makes for a great first effort from this group. Innovative and experimental in nature, it will be interesting to see where Aaron Jerome, the DJ, will go from here.

5) Kayne West & Jay Z – “Watch the Throne”

This album got a lot of press, but all the hype aside this is an epic album. Combining the talents of Jay-Z and Kanye West could very well be considered a PR stunt, but the combined talents of these two hip-hop moguls is unparallel. The sprawling epic songs defy conventional verse, chorus, verse styles creating an amazing mix of lyrics and beats.

4) Adele – “21”

After “21” came out Adele was launched into a whole new league, especially in the UK where it’s the bestselling album of the century. Her soulful pop music is carried by her amazing voice. This is just one of those albums that seems timeless. Adele saved the best for last on this album with “Someone Like You.” It is a breathtaking song that encompasses all of what Adele can do.

3) Radiohead – “King of Limbs”

This album is a bit of a departure from Radiohead’s traditional sound. Diving deeper into more dub and ambient territory, “King of Limbs” adds some texture to latent beats that build across the album. It is innovative, provocative, subtle, sweet and basically phenomenal music.

2) Mastodon – “The Hunter”

From the first track this album hits hard. Heavy bass and straight forward power chords make for a sound reminiscent of classic Queens of the Stone Age. However, the album harkens back to classic heavy hard rock. Songs like“Curl of the Burl” comprise the blistering album.

1) Bon Iver – “Bon Iver”

This album is unreal start to finish. When it came out it was all I listened to for a month solid. Forget that it was nominated for four Grammy’s, just listen to “Holocene,” it is hauntingly good. A sonic soundscape that is sparse yet dense, quiet yet loud and sad yet enduring. However Justin Vernon does it, this takes album of the year by a mile.